Prez poll: BJP to try for consensus within NDA on Sangma

With A P J Abdul Kalam deciding not to join the Presidential race, the Bharatiya Janata Party core group met in New Delhi on Monday night to discuss its strategy including support to P A Sangma and reluctance of allies like the Janata Dal-United to go for a contest against United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee.

After the meeting, there was no official word from the party about its stand post-Kalam withdrawal from the race but party sources said it will discuss with NDA partners to be held soon. Tuesday's NDA meeting has been postponed.

Sources said the BJP is firm that a contest should take place in the presidential poll keeping in view the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well as the immediate prospect of winning more allies like the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Biju Janata Dal.

With Kalam out of the race now, the BJP is likely to support former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma who has been propped up by the AIADMK and the BJD.

BJP veteran L K Advani has been authorised to NDA leaders and the BJD and the AIADMK leaders and may try to reach out to Trinamool Congress also.

However, the JD-U, a key NDA ally, is said to be of the opinion that a contest is futile as the opposition does not have the numbers.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam Swamy, Janata Party chief who is a constituent of the NDA, met Sangma and backed him for the Presidential race.

"Sangma is a well-educated person, a nationalist, has a big heart and I think he has a point that for the sake of national integration, we should have a tribal" as President, Swamy said.